Is Joe Klecker the New Chris Solinsky?

I think he's more like the next Craig Mottram!!

So, slower than Solinsky.......

I hope he does some damage on the world stage. He could potentially be very good for promoting and bringing more popularity to distance running in the U.S.. Unlike G.Rupp, this guy is very personable and has a good masculine appearance which should make him much more marketable.

birdbeard wrote:

shamrockwiz wrote:

Solinsky graduated with 5 NCAA titles. Klecker has a goose egg. Let’s calm down.

Yes, Solinsky is better.

I do think Klecker would've won a title this year, though. He was the fastest returner indoors in 2 events and would've had a great shot at the outdoor 5000.

The NAU guys and Kurgat were stiff comp, but Klecker always showed up at NCAAs, I would think he would have maybe come away with one NCAA title this year, but could have easily ended with 3 more 2nd-4th place finishes.

Recent stuff on Jakob shows 6'1/2" 150 and looks thicker so I guess Klecker 145-150. That would be tiny in work clothes in your office.

Hiyero wrote:

Is Joe about as big as Chris? Is Joe showing similar potential to Chris? Can Joe break 13 one day like Chris?

NO. He’s simply Joe Klecker. Let him build his own legacy & enjoy the journey!

If he is he better shoot his dog now, before it's too late.

SanDiegorunner wrote:

Hiyero wrote:

Is Joe about as big as Chris? Is Joe showing similar potential to Chris? Can Joe break 13 one day like Chris?

NO. He’s simply Joe Klecker. Let him build his own legacy & enjoy the journey!

Dude CALM down. I am having no impact on Joe. Joe is LUCKY anyone discusses him at all.

birdbeard wrote:

Hiyero wrote:

What do you mean different times? If Klecker breaks 13 he is in the ballpark of Solinsky in terms of ability.

Until recently, there hadn't been many Americans running sub-13. It seems much more commonplace now. Not sure if its the shoes or the training or what, but I don't think I am as impressed with Woody Kincaid's 12:58 as I was with Bob Kennedy's 12:58 or Ritz's 12:56. Just seems the races are a bit quicker these days.

There are more fast people now. Look at how many people are running 13:40's or better in the 5k now in the NCAA. A 13:42 5k guy today flies under the radar. A 13:42 5k guy in 1980 would have been pretty well-known. The American record was 13:15 in the 1980's, now we've got people in sniffing distance of that many years recently in the NCAA. Tyler Day 13:16, Eric Jenkins 13:18 and 13:07 soon after college graduation, Andy Trouard 13:21, Sean McGorty 13:24, even Drew Hunter with 13:17 and is college age. The population in the US has gone up by over 100 Million since the 1980, and more kids are doing real training (better structured training with some good mileage and running in the off-season).

So he's 5'11? Got it.

Hiyero wrote:

Runs Big wrote:

He's not really that big. He just has a square face and short neck which gives him that appearance. Kinda like Centro JR.

He is not small like Centro. Joe is big for a world class runner.

nice

My wife runs with his mom...let's hope he has her level of running success.

Legs see what kind of time he runs. The US has a lot of guys in that 13:05 to 13:20 range right now

birdbeard wrote:

Hiyero wrote:

What do you mean different times? If Klecker breaks 13 he is in the ballpark of Solinsky in terms of ability.

Until recently, there hadn't been many Americans running sub-13. It seems much more commonplace now. Not sure if its the shoes or the training or what, but I don't think I am as impressed with Woody Kincaid's 12:58 as I was with Bob Kennedy's 12:58 or Ritz's 12:56. Just seems the races are a bit quicker these days.

Rosy retrospection.

It’s almost like the few and scattered “greats” of the past are being swallowed up by a massive wave of talent and ye old forums can’t figure out how to process it.

birdbeard wrote:

Juice Springsteen wrote:

That would be a pretty good outcome

Agreed. I don't think he is anywhere near as talented as Solinsky.

I do think he has a shot at breaking 13 someday soon. Different times than when Solinsky ran. Not sure Klecker has it in him to run sub-27 though.

Joe has now run 27:35. He just turned 24. He is doing OK.

XXXX wrote:

birdbeard wrote:

Agreed. I don't think he is anywhere near as talented as Solinsky.

I do think he has a shot at breaking 13 someday soon. Different times than when Solinsky ran. Not sure Klecker has it in him to run sub-27 though.

Joe has now run 27:35. He just turned 24. He is doing OK.

I hope he does. I really like Joe Klecker. I believe Ritz ran 27:38 in college, though, and then never ran faster than 27:22 (which is still great). 35 seconds is a lot of seconds. Solinsky was ungodly talented. I don't see Klecker winning any US Titles or Oly Trials, but given his work ethic and level headedness I expect him to be in the mix for a spot on the team for probably the next 8 years or so.

Looks like Solinsky had run 3:37/7:36/13:12 at Klecker's age.

Maybe if he shoots up like Solinsky did.........................

These posts are just an annoyance. Do people think they are funny or do they really believe it? Too many Letsrun posters drag the sport down instead of helping it. Solinsky seems like a great guy. He should be a role model for young kids but instead some idiots throw out false accusations.